Machine for applying screw closures to containers



Dec. 29, 1936. A. c. EVERETT 42,066,259

MACHINE FOR APPLYING SCREW CLOSURES- TO CONTAINERS .Fii d March 14, 1954 5 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR BY 8M Qua/4 ATTORNEY 1 A. c. EvERE'r-qr 2,066,259

MACHINE FOR APPLYING SCREW CLOSURES T0 CONTAINERS Filed March 14, 1934 5 Sheets-Shegt- 2 IINVENII'CR BY ww mmw.

ATTORNEY Deg 29, 1936. I A, c'. EVERETT 59 MAC HUGE: FOR APPLYING SCREW CLOSURES TO CONTAINERS Filed March 14, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet s' INVENTOR BY duh; WW ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1936. A. c. EVERETT 2,066,259 MACHINE FOR APPLYING SCREW CLOSURES T0 ONT AINERS Filed March 14, 1934 5 Shqets-Sheet 4 I NVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1936. A. c. EVERETT 2, ,2 I MACHINE FOR APPLYING SCREW CLOSURES T0 CONTAINERS.

Filed March 14, 19:54 58heets-Sheet 5 I ll ii'ytllwll-llm YIIIIIIII d 6% @l elq'l.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNZTED STATES PATENT OFFlCE MACHINE FOR APPLYING SCREW CLOSURES TO CONTAINERS Arthur Clarence Everett, Boston, Mass, assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation,

Limited,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for applying screw closures to containers.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved machine of the character specified which is relatively simple in construction, may be economically manufactured, and which functions to apply screw closures to containers in a rapid, economical and practical manner.

With this general object in view, the invention consists in a machine for applying screw closures to containers and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine viewed from the right of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating the driving mechanism and associated parts; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail taken on the line 56 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a section on the line l-1 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a detail partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the container stop and closure release mechanism, as will be described; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the closure applying chuck and associated parts.

In general, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine for applying screw caps to bottles, wherein the bottles are fed into the ma-. chine on an incoming conveyor l0 comprising a double set of chains, one of which is shown at l2, arranged to run around suitable sprockets 13, I4, and a pair of driving sprockets I5 mounted upon a short shaft ll journaled in suitable bearings in the base [8 of the machine. The shaft I1 is arranged to be driven from a driving motor 20 through connections including a belt 22, cross shaft 24, having a worm 25 thereon, arranged to cooperate with a worm wheel 21 formed as a part of a sleeve 30, having a hub 32 keyed to a vertical shaft 34. The vertical shaft 34 is provided with a threaded end 35 having-a nut 36 by which the shaft is supported upon the hub 32, and the latter is rotatably supported upon a thrust bearing 38 supported by a bearing 40 forming a part of the upper section 42 of the machine frame. The upper section 42 of the machine frame is adjustably mounted, as will be described, upon the base I8 of the frame, and with this construction and through the connections described, the vertical shaft 34 is arranged to be continuously rotated.

The shaft 34 near its lower end is provided with a beveled gear 44 slidably keyed thereto and arranged to cooperate with a beveled gear 45 bolted to a flange on the shaft ll, so that the driving sprockets l5 are arranged to be driven continuously during the operation of the machine, and consequently the incoming and outgoing conveyor I0 is continuously driven. The metal belt conveyor l0 offers minimum resistance to the slipping with relation to the container being gripped, as will be described, during the application of a closure thereto.

In the present machine provision is made for continuously rotating a closure applying chuck and also for lowering the chuck into position to engage a cap and apply the same to the container, and as best illustrated in Fig. 3 the machine is provided with a stationary housing 52 formed as a part of the upper section of the frame of the machine and within which a sleevelike chuck carrying housing 54 is slidably mounted. The chuck carrying housing 54 is provided upon its upper end with an elongated pinion 56 with which an actuating gear 58 is arranged to mesh, the housing 52 being provided with an opening therein to permit the gear to mesh with the pinion. The chuck carrying housing 54 is provided with a laterally extended stud B0 arranged to project through a vertical slot 62 in the outer housing 52 and upon which a cam roller 64 is mounted. The cam roller 64 is received within a cam path 66 in a barrel cam 68 bolted to the gear 58, and the latter is keyed as illustrated to the vertical shaft 34, so that during the continuous rotation of the shaft 34 the chuck carry- I ing housing 54 is lowered and subsequently raised by the revolution of the barrel cam 58 and the two high points of cam path 66.

In order to operate the chuck to open and close the same for the purpose of gripping a closure, the machine is provided with a cam 10 secured to and rotatable with the hub 32. The cam 10 cooperates with a cam roll 12 on the upper end of a plunger rod 14 slidably mounted in a bearing 16 fixed to the machine frame. The lower end of the plunger rod 14 is arranged to raise and lower a spindle having a conical end portion 82 for the purpose of effecting the opening and closing of the gripping jaws of the chuck, and as herein shown the conical end portion 82 cooperates with one arm 84 of a plurality of gripping levers 85 pivotally mounted in a driving spindle 88 on pins 90. The second arms 92 of the gripping levers 86 bear against a plurality of gripping members 94 yieldably mounted at the lower end of the driving spindle 88. As a result, when the conical end 82 of the spindle is raised and lowered, the gripping jaws will be closed and opened, a suitable enclosed spring 95 tending to urge the gripping members outwardly. As herein shown, a yieldable connection is provided between the closure applying unit 50. and the plunger rod 14 including a compression spring 8I adjustably retained between collars 83, 85, the upper of which is secured by a nut 81 to the spindle 80.

In order to rotate the driving spindle 88 and consequently the gripping members 94, driving connections are provided including a friction clutch indicated generally at 96. One member 98 of the friction clutch is provided with projections 91 which extend into slots I00 in the housing 54, so that as the housing 54 is rotated through the gears 56, 58, the chuck will be caused to rotate through the friction connections. The friction between the members of the friction clutch may be adjustably controlled by the coil spring 89 and adjusting nut 9|, as will be clearly apparent from inspection of Fig. 9. While the preferred form of closure applying mechanism has been herein illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention does not reside in the closure applying mechanism perse and that any suitable form of closure applying chuck may be used if found advantageous.

Provision is made for clamping and holding a container on the conveyor in vertical alignment with the closure applying chuck and for this purpose an inner clamping lever I02 and an outer clamping lever I04 are provided. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 7, the inner clamping lever I02 is keyed to the upper end of a vertical rock shaft I06 which is pivotally mounted in a bearing I08 in the base I8 of the machine frame. The lower end of the shaft I06 has secured thereto a cam lever I III which carries a cam roll I I 2. The cam roll II2 cooperates with a cam II4 secured to a disc II6 keyed to the vertical rotating shaft 34. A spring II8 holds the cam roll II2 against the cam I I4. The outer clamping lever I04 is keyed to the upper end of a second vertical rock shaft I20 which is mounted in a bearing I22 in the machine frame I8. A lever I24 securedto the lower end of the vertical rock shaft I20 is connected to a cam lever I26 by a yieldable link I28. The cam lever I26 ispivotally secured by a nut I3I to a stud I30 fixed in the machine frame. A cam roll I 32 carried by the cam lever I26. is yieldingly urged into contact with a cam I34 by a spring I31. The cam I34 is secured to a cam disc I36 which is also keyed to the vertical rotating shaft 34.

The clamping levers I02 and I04 are provided with clamping members I40.a'nd I42 which are preferably faced with soft rubber or othergresilient material to prevent any injury. to the containers clamped therebetween. The outer clamping member I42 is provided with an-extension I44 for the purpose of engaging the forward end of the container to retain it in proper alignment with the closure applying chuck 50. From the above description it will be apparent that as the shaft 34 revolves, the clamping members will be alternately urged toward each other, to clamp and hold the container, and, .away from each other to release the container and allow'it to continue along the continuously moving conveyor chain I0. The yieldable link I28 includes a con-j nection I29 secured to the cam lever I26. One end of the link I28 is loosely fitted into a hole,.I33 in the connection I29. A compression spring I35 is fitted between the connection I29 and a nut I38 on the end of the link I28. The yieldable connection serves to assist in retaining a firm grip on the container without danger of crushing the same after the cam I34 hm reached the end -with the metal extension I44 of the clamping member I42. This precludes the possibility of any sudden stopping or jarring effect which might cause some of the contents to be spilled, more especially with a wide mouthed container.

Provision is made for feeding the closures from a bulk supply in a hopper I50 to the closure applying chuck 50 and for this purpose the closure feeding device I5I forming I the subject matter of the United States patent to R. N. Doble, 1,801,728 is preferably employed. In general, this feeding devicecomprises a rotatingdisc I52 through which is extended a plurality of closure engaging pins I54 arranged to carry the closures to a chute or closure conveyorl56, all as fully set forth in said Doble Patent No. 1,801,728, to which reference may be made. The cap feeding unit I5I is supported by a bracket I 58 which is secured to the upper section 42 of the machine frame."

The rotating disc I52 is arranged to be driven from the capping'machine through a belt I60 which runs over a pulley I62 mounted on the shaft 24 and a pulley I64mounted on one end of a shaft I65. The shaft I65 is suitably mounted in a bearing I66 in the upper section 42 of the machine frame, and in bearings I68 and I10 in the closure feeding unit I5I. A worm I12 fixed to the shaft I65 meshes with a worm wheel I14 fast on one end of ashaft I16. The rotating disc I52 is securely attached to the second end of the shaft I16.

Provision is madefor transferring the closures from the closure feeding chute I56 to the closure applying chuck 50 and for this purposea trans-. ferring arm I is provided. The transfer arm 180 is pivoted on a stud 5 I82 secured to a hub I8I by a set screw I83; The hub IN is formed I84 and, I86.

mounted on top of and secured to the cam 10.

A vertical shaft I mounted in suitable bearings I92 and I94 in theupper section of the machine frame 42. carriesa cam' lever I96 at its' upper end. A cam roll I98 attached to the end of the cam lever I96 cooperates with the cam I88. .The lower end of the. verticalshaft I90 has secured thereto anadjustable lever 200 which is connected to a second arm 202 of the transfer, arm I80 by a link 204.. A spring 206 attached at one endto an arm 208. of the adjustable'lever 200 and at the other end to a stationary part of the machine frame serves to hold the cam roll I98 against its cam I88.

The closures arepermittedto slide down the chute I56 by gravity to a releasing mechanism, to be described, and as theyv are released one at atimethey are stopped in their descent by a 7 Walsh 3 protuberance 2I0 on the transfer arm I80 as shown in Fig. 8. The transfer arm I80 at this time is in its extreme backward position under the chute I56 and as it starts its forward motion, a button 2I2 fixed to the transfer arm I80 enters the protruding edge of the closure and as the arm I80 continues in its forward motion the closure is stripped from the chute I56 and settles down over the button 212 as shown in Fig. 6. In its travel from the chute to the closure applying chuck the closure is held from disengagement with the button 2I2 by a guard plate 2I4, fixed to an arm 2I6 which is attached to the stud I82. On certain types of closures it is preferable to use additional means to assist in retaining the closures in contact with the button 2I2 in its travel from the chute I56 to the chuck 58 and for this purpose a suction device is provided. A hole 220 in the button 2l2 provides an inlet or suction nozzle to retain the cap on the button 2I2. The hole 228 is connected to a suction pump 222 by a rubber hose 224 which is connected directly to the suction pump 222 at one end and to a hollow hub 226 of the arm I88 at the other end. A passageway 228 in the arm I80 between the hole 220 and the hollow hub 226 completes the suction line. The suction pump 222 comprises a cylinder 238, a piston 232 and a flap valve 234 hinged to the end of the cylinder 230. A link 236 connects the piston 232 to the actuating lever 288 above referred to. With this construction it will be seen that suction can be maintained during the forward stroke of the transfer arm I80. During the backward stroke the air is exhausted through the flap valve 234.

In order to release the containers on the conveyor one at a time and in timed relation to the operation of the closure applying device a stop finger 248 is provided. The stop finger 240 is adjustably mounted on a lever 242 clamped to a rocker shaft 244. The rocker shaft 244 is actuated by a barrel cam 246 attached to a disc 248 which is slidably keyed to the vertical shaft 34. A two-armed cam lever 250 pivoted on a stud 252 carries a cam roll 254 at one end and the cam roll is caused to maintain contact with the cam 246 by a spring 256. The other arm 258 of the cam lever 250 is connected to a lever 260 fixed to the rocker shaft 244 by a link 262. A second stop finger 264 also arranged to be clamped on the rocker shaft 244 and positioned slightly forward ofthe stop finger 240 is provided to hold back the line of containers coming in on the conveyor and thereby relieve the safety device, to be described, of any unnecessary pressure. The second stop finger 264 is yieldably mounted in an adjustable bushing 266 which is clamped in a lever 268 attached to the rocker shaft 244. A

spring 210 is coiled around the finger 264 between a shoulder 212 on the finger 264 and the bushing 266. A collar 214 fixed to the outer end of the finger 264 is provided to limit the inward movement of the finger, and as a result of this construction the finger is prevented from crushing or breaking a container, should the finger come in contact with the body portion of a container instead of in between two or in front of one container.

In order to prevent a closure from being supplied to the closure applying unit when there are no containers being supplied and conversely to allow a closure to be released when containers are being supplied, a safety device is provided, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8. This device includes a feeler finger 280 fixed to a vertical shaft 282 mounted in bearings 284 and 286 in a bracket 288. The bracket 288 is loosely mounted on a rocker shaft 290 between a collar '292 and a lever 284 which is clamped to the rocker shaft 290. The shaft 280 fulcrumed in suitable bearing 286 and 298 is actuated by a barrel cam 308 secured to a disc 382 by nuts 303, as seen in Fig. 3. The disc 302 is slidably keyed to the vertical shaft 34. A cam lever 384 fulcrumed on a stud 306 in the machine frame carries a cam'roll 388 at one end. A link 3I8 connects the outer arm 3I2 of the cam lever 304 to an actuating lever 3I6 securely fixed to the rocker shaft 298. A spring 3I8 serves to hold the cam roll 308 against the cam 388.

The feeler finger 280 is normally held in a position at right angles to the conveyor I by a spring 320. A lug 322 is provided on the finger 288 which comes in contact with a set screw 324 to adjust the position of the feeler finger. A spring 326 normally urges the loosely mounted lever 288 and the fixed lever 294 toward each other as viewed in Fig. 8. A set screw 328 in the loose lever 288 comes in contact with a guide rail 338 and thereby limits the motion of the lever in this direction. The lower end of the vertical shaft 282 is provided with a latch 332 secured thereto. The lever 284 fixed to the rocker shaft 230, carries a latch block 334. A connection is made between the loose lever 288 and a releasing finger 336 on the chute I56 by a link 338. The link 338 is conected at oneend by a connection 340 clamped to a fixed stud in the lever 288. The other end of the link is connected to a lever 342 which is fixed on a fulcrum 3A4 mounted on the chute I56. The releasing finger 336 is also mounted on the fulcrum 344. With this arrangement it will be seen that when a container comes in contact with the feeler finger 238 it is rocked from its normal position to a position as shown in Fig. 7, and at the same time the latch 332 is thrown into contact with the face of the fixed lever 284. At this time the barrel cam 388 operates to rock the shaft 290 in a clockwise direction viewed from Fig. 8. As the shaft is rocked thelatch block 334 on the fixed lever 294 will come in contact with the latch 332 and operate to rock the loose lever 288 with it. This action moves the feeler finger 288 out of the path of the container on the conveyor I8 and allows the container to proceed to the stop finger 240 to be released at the proper time. At the same time a closure is released from the chute I56 to the transfer arm I88 by the releasing finger 336 through the connections described. It will also be apparent that if no container is forthcoming on the conveyor, the feeler finger 280 will not be rocked to the position shown in Fig. '7, and consequently the latch 332 will remain out of the path of the latch block 334. Therefore, when the fixed lever 204 is rocked it will not carry the loose lever with it and no closure will be released from the chute I56.

For the purpose of adjustably raising and lowering the closure applying chuck and its associated mechanism to conform todifferent sizes and heights of containers, the upper section 42 is arranged to slide vertically on the back of the base I8 and for this purpose a groove 350 is cut in the section 42 to fit over the base I8, as illustrated in Fig. '7. Gibs 35I serve to hold the section 42 in slidable contact with the base I8. In order to raise or lower the section 42 a handle 352 is provided fixed to a shaft 354 which is mounted in a bearing 356 on the section 42. A

bevel gear 358 fixed to the shaft 354 meshes with a bevel gear 360 mounted on the upper end of an adjusting screw 362. The adjusting screw 362 is rotatably mounted in a'bearing 364 secured to the upper section 42. The lower or threaded end of the adjusting screw is fitted into a bushing 366 which is secured to a bracket 368 mounted on the base 18. The screw 362'is held from longitudinal displacement in relation to the bearing 364 by a shoulder 310 on one side and by the hub of the bevel gear 369 on the other side. A thrust bearing 312 is provided between the shoulder 370 and thebearing 364. When the handle 352 is turned the adjusting screw 362 is turned in the stationary bushing 366 and causes the upper section 42 to be raised or lowered depending on the direction in which the handle 352 is turned. When the section 42 has been adjusted to suit a certain height of container, clamping screws 314 are tightened down to secure the section 42 to the base I8.

As the vertical shaft 34 is also raised or lowered with the section 42, provision is made to allow the shaft to slide in the lower section, and, as herein shown, an elongated key 316 is fixed in the shaft 34 and the cams and bevel gear 44 are all slidably mounted between bushings 318 and 386 in the base l8. The bushings 318 and 380 are provided with keyways through which the key 376 is allowed to pass and are held from vertical displacement by shoulders 382 on the bushings 318 and 380 which bear against stationary bearings in the base l8. These bushings are rotatably mounted in their respective bearings. This construction allows the vertical shaft 34 to be raised or lowered and at the same time to rotate without displacing any of the parts in the lower section.

While the preferred embodiment of the-invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a closure applying machinein combination, container supporting means, a chuck for gripping and holding a closure, a vertically movable and rotatable member upon which said chuck is mounted, a stationary supporting member within which said rotatable member is operatively supported to be capable of vertical and rotary movement, and means for imparting both vertical and rotary movement to said rotatable member and the. chuck carried thereby including a rotatable vertical shaft, gearing connections between said shaft and said rotatable chuck carrying member, a, barrel cam secured to said vertical shaft to rotate therewith provided with a cam path, a cam roll directly connected to said rotatable chuck carrying member and operative within said cam path to effect vertical movement of said rotatable chuck carrying member for the purpose specified, a second cam mounted upon the upper end portion of said vertical shaft, and means cooperating with said cam and said chuck for operating the chuck to causeit to engage and grip the closure.

2. In a. closure applying machine, in combination, container holding means, closureapplying means comprising a chuck, a chuck carrying member upon which said chuck is mounted, stationary means within which said chuck. carrying member is mounted to be capable of vertical and rotary movement, said means comprising a housing provided with openings in one surface thereof, means for imparting vertical and rotary movement of the chuck carrying member including a rotatable vertical shaft, 9. gear secured thereto and extending through one of the openings in said housing, an elongated pinion carried by the chuck carrying member cooperating with said gear, a barrel cam provided with a cam path, also mounted upon said rotatable vertical shaft, a stud carried by the chuck carrying member and extending through the second opening in said housing and provided with a cam roll operative within thecam path in said barrel cam, a second cam upon the upper end of the vertical shaft, and means cooperating with the chuck and the last mentioned cam for opening and closing the chuck, said means including a friction connection.

ARTHUR CLARENCE EVERETT. 

